Intel Core i3-8100T vs Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads, the Intel Core i3-8100T or the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 supports 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-8100T supports 4 threads. Both chips have 4 physical cores.

Q: What is the difference in their typical power draw?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 has a 25W TDP, whereas the Intel Core i3-8100T has a 35W TDP. The Xeon model is rated for lower power consumption.

Q: Do both processors support error-correcting memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-8100T and the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T has an average benchmark score of 1500, while the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 has an average score of 1446. However, in direct head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Xeon wins all six comparisons.

Q: What is the release timeframe for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T was released in April 2018, and the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 was released in October 2015.

Q: Do these CPUs use the same socket?

A: No, the Intel Core i3-8100T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 uses Intel BGA 1440.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-8100T is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, using a 14 nm process node with a die size of 126 mm². In contrast, the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 is based on the Skylake-H architecture, also on a 14 nm node, but with a slightly smaller die at 122 mm² and a transistor count of 2,300 million. The Core i3 is a desktop part, while the Xeon is classified as a server or workstation processor.

Cache layouts differ notably. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the Xeon: 8 MB shared compared to 6 MB shared on the Core i3. This additional cache can help the Xeon in workloads that benefit from larger pools of fast memory.

Memory support also separates the two. The Core i3-8100T supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel operation and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon E3-1505L v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but its bandwidth is lower at 34.1 GB/s. Both processors have ECC memory support, which is a common requirement for workstation and server tasks.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core i3-8100T includes UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon E3-1505L v5 features HD Graphics P530. Both are Intel integrated solutions, but they are from different graphics generations. PCIe support is identical on paper: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only.

The Core i3-8100T has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and no boost clock, whereas the Xeon E3-1505L v5 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.80 GHz. The Xeon's ability to boost is a key architectural feature that the Core i3 lacks entirely.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 across all six Cinebench tests. The largest single-core margin appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 71 against the Core i3's 63, a delta of -11.3%. In multi-core R15, the Xeon posts 503 versus 450, a 10.5% advantage.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Xeon wins multi-core with 2099 against 1876, a 10.6% gap. In single-core R20, the Xeon scores 296 versus 264, a 10.8% delta. These results indicate that the Xeon's advantage is consistent across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The Xeon E3-1505L v5 scores 4999 in multi-core, while the Core i3-8100T manages 4467, again a 10.6% difference. In single-core R23, the Xeon reaches 705, and the Core i3 scores 630, with a 10.6% delta. Every benchmark in the head-to-head set is won by the Xeon, and the margins are remarkably uniform, clustering around 10.5% to 11.3%.

The Core i3-8100T does have its own standalone benchmark results, including Geekbench scores of 3142 multi-core and 1104 single-core. The Xeon does not have recorded Geekbench scores in the database, so those numbers cannot be compared directly. However, in the tests where both are measured, the Xeon is consistently ahead.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several specification fields. The Core i3-8100T has 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1505L v5 has 8 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the Core i3 runs at 3.10 GHz with no boost, and the Xeon runs at 2000.00 MHz base with a 2.80 GHz boost. TDP ratings favor the Xeon at 25W versus 35W for the Core i3.

Sockets are different: the Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440. The architectures are Coffee Lake versus Skylake, with codenames Coffee Lake and Skylake-H respectively. The Core i3 has a die size of 126 mm², while the Xeon is 122 mm² and has a transistor count of 2,300 million, a figure not listed for the Core i3.

L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the Core i3 and 8 MB shared on the Xeon. Memory support differs: the Core i3 supports DDR4 only, while the Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s for the Core i3 and 34.1 GB/s for the Xeon. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 on the Core i3 and HD Graphics P530 on the Xeon.

Market segments differ: the Core i3 is a Desktop part, and the Xeon is a Server/Workstation part. Release dates are April 2018 for the Core i3 and October 2015 for the Xeon. The launch MSRP for the Core i3-8100T is $117. Both processors are end-of-life, have no unlocked multiplier, and share the same PCIe configuration: Gen 3, 16 lanes from the CPU only.

The Verdict

The database shows that the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench test, with margins between 10.5% and 11.3%. It also has twice the thread count, a larger L3 cache, and a lower TDP. For users who can work within the BGA 1440 socket and its server-oriented platform, the Xeon is the stronger compute choice.

The Intel Core i3-8100T is not without merit. It has a higher base clock, supports faster memory bandwidth, and uses a mainstream desktop socket. Its average benchmark score of 1500 is slightly higher than the Xeon's 1446, though this is influenced by the Geekbench results that are only recorded for the Core i3.

The Xeon's percentile ranking is 38, identical to the Core i3, meaning both sit at the same position relative to all CPUs in the database. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with a delta of 0.5% and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE at 0.1%, while the Core i3 sits near the Intel Core i7-3770S with a 0.1% delta.

For a direct performance comparison, the Xeon wins. The Core i3 is a viable alternative only if the platform and memory support align with a desktop build. The data favors the Xeon for raw compute, especially in threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 wins in all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios. Its 8 threads give it a clear advantage in multi-threaded rendering, and its boost clock helps in single-threaded tasks. The lower 25W TDP also makes it suitable for compact or power-constrained systems, and the 8 MB L3 cache supports workloads with larger working sets.

The Intel Core i3-8100T does not win any of the direct comparisons, but it has strengths in other areas. Its 3.10 GHz base clock is higher than the Xeon's 2000.00 MHz base, which can matter in lightly threaded tasks that do not trigger boost behavior. The 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is higher than the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s, potentially benefiting memory-intensive applications. The Socket 1151 platform is a mainstream desktop standard, which may be easier to build around than the BGA 1440 socket.

In practical terms, the Xeon is the pick for rendering, compilation, or any workload that scales with threads. The Core i3 is the pick for a simple desktop build where the higher base clock and memory bandwidth are relevant, and where the platform compatibility matters more than peak multi-threaded performance. The benchmark data does not show a single test where the Core i3 beats the Xeon, so any advantage for the Core i3 must come from non-benchmark factors like platform fit and memory speed.